Toiletry article

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a fingernail polish kit or toiletry article having a rigid, central, handle-forming body or sleeve or appropriate length to contain within the same lint cotton, gauze, or other appropriate preferably absorbent substance used in manicuring. In each end of the sleeve is frictionally and removably telescoped a tube container either having a readily distortable wall portion or the entire tube flexible with a stopper or plug at its open end, one of the containers being adapted to receive fingernail polish remover and the other, fingernail polish. Each stopper is provided with an axial channel or passage in the outer end of which is a removable and replaceable brush so that when the container is squeezed it will expel a drop of the liquid for application by the brush to a fingernail, a removable and replaceable protective cap or cover being provided for each brush with one cover of a different detectable characteristic from the other to enable the device to be used regardless of whether in the light or not. Also a holder is provided in the form of a base which may be a suction cup and an upwardly opening yoke for receiving the body of the device so that when on a flat surface it will not roll, and alternately the device may be attached to a surface either horizontal or otherwise.

[45] Patented United States Patent Frances F. Jones Pent House, WhiteHouse Motor Inn to Houston St. NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30303 [72] Inventor [21]AppLNo. 826,084 [22] Filed May 14,1969 July 13,1971

[54] TOILETRY ARTICLE Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene AssistantExaminer Gregory E. McNeil] Attorneys-A. Yates Dowel] and A YatesDowell, Jr.

ABSTRACT: The present invention is a fingernail polish kit or toiletryarticle having a rigid, central, handle-forming body or sleeve orappropriate length to contain within the same lint cotton, gauze, orother appropriate preferably absorbent substance used in manicuring. ineach end of the sleeve is frictionally and removably telescoped a tubecontainer either having a readily distortable wall portion or the entiretube flexible with a stopper or plug at its open end, one of thecontainers being adapted to receive fingernail polish remover and theother, fingernail polish. Each stopper is provided with an axial channelor passage in the outer end of which is a removable and replaceablebrush so that when the container is squeezed it will expel a drop of theliquid for application by the brush to a fingernail, a removable andreplaceable protective cap or cover being provided for each brush withone cover of a different detectable characteristic from the other toenable the device to be used regardless of whether in the light or not.Also a holder is provided in the form of a base which may be a suctioncup and an upwardly opening yoke for receiving the body of the device sothat when on a flat surface it will not roll, and alternately the devicemay be attached to a surface either horizontal or otherwise,

PATENTEUJULIBIH?! 7 3,592,202

I NVE N TOR FKA/VCZJ f. JONES v NEYJ TOILETRY ARTICLE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention is in the field ofcosmetic devices or accessories used in the grooming of the personorproviding toiletry for use in such grooming, and which devicesfrequently are found on the dressing table or carried in the handbag.

2.Description of the Prior Art Cosmetic devices of various kinds havebeen employed for use in manicuring the fingernails, some of whichinclude fountain brushes, for example, the U.S. Pat. No. 2,905,956 toFuller et al. However, these devices have been inadequate or have notbeen fully satisfactory, and the present invention is to supply some ofthe deficiencies of the pribr art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONlAND OBJECTS The present invention is afingernail polish kit in the form of a slender tube composed essentiallyof la couple of fountain brushes connected by a rigid sleeve oil metalor other substance and designed to hold lint cotton, gauze, or otherappropriate wiping substance preferably of the absorbent type. The twofountain brushes include containers having readily distortable wallportions or they may be of polyethylene or other plastic to enable themto be squeezed or compressed between the fingers and thumb to expel adrop of the liquid contents onto the brushes for application to afingernail.

It is an object of the invention to prov de an attractive, simple andpractical fingernail polish kit of unitary construction althoughcomposed of multiple elements, as well as one which is break-, spill-,and leak-proof, can be readily squeezed to discharge the contents fromcontainers, with means for mounting the same on a support, and whichdevice is durable and can be used efficiently for accomplishing that forwhich it was designed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective of theinvention with one of the plastic containers being compressed betweenthe fingers and thumb;

FIG. 2, a fragmentary perspective illustrating the use of the device toapply fingernail polish; l

FIG. 3, a perspective illustrating the device in a suction-cup type ofholder or mounting;

FIG. 4, a longitudinal section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5, a part elevational and part sectional view of a rigid sleeve, aflexible container frictionally telescoped in one end of the sleeve, anda similar container in spaced relation to the opposite end of thesleeve; i

FIG. 6, an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the end closure and brushholder of each of the containers; and

FIG. 7, a similar view of a slightly niodified type of brush holder andcontainer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The fingernail polish kit of thepresent invention has a central handle-forming body or sleeve ofappropriate length and of rigid metal or other material adapted tocontain lint cotton, gauze, or other appropriate wiping substance 11preferably absorbent within the same for ready availability whenmanicuring. Within each end of the body or sleeve 10 is frictionally andremovably telescoped the transverse reinforcement or the reinforced orthickened end 12 of a tubular container or bottle 13 having a readilydistortable wall portion or the entire container may be of polyethyleneor other plastic, each with an open and a closed end one container orbottle being adapted to contain nail polish remover l4 and the otherbeing adapted to contain nail ,polish 15. By being produced of plastic,the container or bottle 13 will be durable and capable of being readilycompressed, as for example, between the fingers and thumb to expel itscontents, and can be refilled and readily withdrawn from the sleeve 10,and will not break or spill.

The containers have open ends within which are frictionally engagedremovable and replaceable brush-carrying closure members or stoppers,each of which includes a sleeve portion 16 of a size to overlap the openend of the container, the extent of overlap being limited by anadjoining annular externally roughened or knurled annular enlargement l7with a shoulder 18 against which the open end of the container isadapted to abut. In this way a seal is provided between theexteriorsurface of the sleeve portion 16 and the interior surface of thecontainer 10 when the open end of the container is tightly fittedagainst the shoulder 18. At the opposite side of the enlargement 17there are additional sleeve portions 19 and 20 which terminate in areduced annular extremity 21. Within the sleeve portions 19 and 20 is afillerpiece 22 having an end terminating flushed with the encompassingsleeve portions, and within the fillerpiece 22 is located a lengthwisepassage or channel forming sleeve 23 having an outwardly flared portion24 for bristles 25 folded upon themselves at 26 and compressed withinand extending from said folded portion beyond the flared portion 24 ofthe sleeve 23. Since the bristles are compacted and compressed withinthe tube 23, only a small amount of liquid, such as a drop 27, can bedischarged at a time from the associated container, and when thusexpelled through the tube 23 onto the bristles the liquid can be appliedonto a fingernail. To insure the bristles being retained within the tube23, it is provided with opposite depressions or constrictions 28.

In FIG. 7, a modified type of structure is illustrated similar to thatof FIG. 6 except there is contained a member 29 in the fold of theslightly longer bristles 30. Also instead ofthe sleeve 23 asubstantially straight passage or channel forming tube 31 is employed.In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 6 and 7, in order to protect thebristles a pair of caps 32 and 33 are provided, the cap 32 having arounded end portion while the cap 33 has a blunt or square end portionto enable the user to be able to detect that the rounded end 32 of thedevice contains the nail polish remover l4 and the blunt or square endthe one that contains the nail polish 15. The rounded and square endsare merely for purpose of illustration and are intended to mean thatidentification means is provided by other of the senses than sight.

A holder for the device may be provided in the form of a base which maybe a suction cup 34 to which is attached a pair of curved arms 35 whichprovide in effect a yoke between which the particular body of the devicemay be held and prevented from rolling on a flat surface and by use ofasuction cup the device may be attached to a surface which is horizontalor otherwise.

The use of the device will be apparent. The nail polish remover can beapplied by removing the cap 32 and squeezing the container 13 to force adrop of the nail polish remover onto the bristles 25. Nail polish 15 maybe applied in like manner by removing the cap 33 and compressing thecon' tainer 13 to expel a drop of nail polish onto the bristles 25 ofthe second applicator.

It will be readily understood that an attractive, simple, practical anddurable device is provided which may be supplied with initials, suitableindicia, or the like, if desired, on the central sleeve or holderportion of metal or other hard material, and the device is intended tobe produced with a particular view to the esthetic nature of the same.It will be understood that, as illustrated clearly in FIG. 4 of thedrawing, in assembled relationship the opposed closed extremities of thetubular containers or reservoirs are spaced apart to provide areceptacle within the handle forming sleeve 10 for the retention of theabsorbent wiping substance (lint cotton, gauze, or the like) I].

What I claim is:

l. A combined nail polish applicator and remover compris ing:

a rigid open end sleeve body of a size to be easily held in the hand,said sleeve body providing a receptacle having an externalindiciasreceiving surface and intended for the reception of absorbentwiping material;

a supply of absorbent wiping material received within said sleeve body,said absorbent material being accessible for selective removal fromeither open end of the sleeve body;

closure means for each end of said sleeve body, each closure means beingin the form of a generally cylindrical container for fluid materialhaving a distortable portion and an open end and a closed end, saidclosed end fitting tightly and frictionally within one of the open endsof said sleeve body and with the closed end thickened to providetransverse reinforcement for said cylindrical container;

a closure for the open end of each of said containers, each closurehaving a sleeve portion positioned within said sleeve body and providinga snug frictional fit therewith, each sleeve portion including anenlarged annular shoulder having a diameter greater than that of theassociated container and being seated against the open end of saidcontainer providing a sealed connection and limit ing the extent towhich the closure may enter into the container, each closure having apassage extending lengthwise therethrough;

bristles located and compressed within the passage in each of saidclosures and extending outwardly therethrough whereby a single drop ofthe fluid material in the container may be discharged onto the bristlesbeyond the end of said closure by the application of pressure to thedistortable portion of the container whereby said drop of fluid materialmay be applied to a nail or the like, removal of one of the containersfrom said sleeve body providing absorbent wiping material for wiping theapplied drop of liquid and the exterior surface of said bristles.

2. The structure of claim 1 and a removable protective cap for eachbrush. 7

3. The structure of claim 1 having means identifiable by one of thesenses other than sight for identifying the respective containers.

1. A combined nail polish applicator and remover comprising: a rigidopen end sleeve body of a size to be easily held in the hand, saidsleeve body providing a receptacle having an external indicia-receivingsurface and intended for the reception of absorbent wiping material; asupply of absorbent wiping material received within said sleeve body,said absorbent material being accessible for selective removal fromeither open end of the sleeve body; closure means for each end of saidsleeve body, each closure means being in the form of a generallycylindrical container for fluid material having a distortable portionand an open end and a closed end, said closed end fitting tightly andfrictionally within one of the open ends of said sleeve body and withthe closed end thickened to provide transverse reinforcement for saidcylindrical container; a closure for the open end of each of saidcontainers, each closure having a sleeve portion positioned within saidsleeve body and providing a snug frictional fit therewith, each sleeveportion including an enlarged annular shoulder having a diameter greaterthan that of the associated container and being seated against the openend of said container providing a sealed connection and limiting theextent to which the closure may enter into the container, each closurehaving a passage extending lengthwise therethrough; bristles located andcompressed within the passage in each of said closures and extendingoutwardly therethrough whereby a single drop of the fluid material inthe container may be discharged onto the bristles beyond the end of saidclosure by the application of pressure to the distortable portion of thecontainer whereby said drop of fluid material may be applied to a nailor the like, removal of one of the containers from said sleeve bodyproviding absorbent wiping material for wiping the applied drop ofliquid and the exterior surface of said bristles.
 2. The structure ofclaim 1 and a removable protective cap for each brush.
 3. The structureof claim 1 having means identifiable by one of the senses other thansight for identifying the respective containers.